Slide bài giảng môn Viết 2 Academic Writing 2: unit 6 cause effect essays slides

INTRODUCTION: Structure INTRODUCTION engages reader’s interest = personalizing topic /showing why it is important for reader to know about topic HOOK gives details about event/situa

Writing 2

UNIT 6: CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAYS

CAUSE-EFFECT ESSAYS: Purpose

• To explain the causes of an event/situation (why it happens),

or the effects of an event/situation (the results)

• Longer essays: causes and effects

• Your essay: only causes

CAUSE-EFFECT ESSAYS: Format

• Introduction

1 paragraph

• Body

2 paragraphs

• Conclusion

1 paragraph

INTRODUCTION: Structure

INTRODUCTION

engages reader’s interest =

personalizing topic /showing why

it is important for reader to know

about topic

HOOK

gives details about event/situation resulting from causes to be discussed , in order to help reader understand relationship between causes and effects

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

presents 2 causes leading to

event/situation

THESIS STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION: Example (Savage

& Mayer, 2006)

At this moment, somewhere in the world a young boy is dreaming

about becoming a famous soccer player He has posters of famous soccer stars in his room, and every day he goes out to practice with his friends

He even cuts his hair in the same style as his favorite player (Hook:

personalization – writing about a certain person in the society) Thousands of

young people feel the same as this boy However, only a few children

actually become professional athletes (Background information: presenting the outcome of the causes to be written about) The factors that determine if an

individual can have a successful career in professional sports include

physical ability and mental clarity (Thesis statement: stating two causes)

BODY: Structure

• Paragraph 1: 1 topic sentence (= 1st cause) + examples;

explanations; reasons; facts

• Paragraph 2: 1 topic sentence (= 2nd cause) + examples;

explanations; reasons; facts

BODY: Example (Savage &

Mayer, 2006)

Body paragraph 1 – Cause 1

In order to become a professional athlete, a person must be athletically gifted (Topic sentence: stating cause 1) This means the athlete must be

stronger than others (explanation 1) A soccer star should be able to run

faster and farther than most other athletes A basketball player has to be able to fake, block, and shoot while other powerful players are trying to

stop him (examples) Finally, in order to make a career out of sports, the

player must be able to prevent injuries (explanation 2) Many young athletes have to quit because they have sports injuries It is very difficult to play a sport year after year and not get seriously hurt So a powerful, agile, and resilient body is essential (further explanation for explanation 2)

Body: Example (Savage &

Mayer, 2006)

Body paragraph 2 – Cause 2

The other factor that contributes to a successful career in sports is a strong mind

the game (explanation 1) A tennis player might feel a lot of stress, which could interfere with her ability to concentrate She might hit the ball out of bounds A crowd of people yelling at a baseball pitcher might make him throw balls instead of strikes (example 1) To succeed, an athlete must be able to play under this kind of pressure In addition, an

athlete must be able to make quick strategic decisions (explanation 2) Making the right decision to pass or shoot, for example, is extremely important, especially in team sports

shots, he must focus on passing the ball to the player who has the best chance of

scoring He cannot think only about himself if he wants his team to win (example 3)

CONCLUSION: Structure

• Repetition of thesis statement (in different words) +

summary of main causes + comment to round off essay

CONCLUSION: Example (Savage &

Mayer, 2006)

In conclusion, the two contributing factors to a successful

career in athletics (thesis restatement: repeating the thesis statement in

different words) are physical ability and a strong mind and

character (summary of main causes: summarizing the two causes presented in

famous athletes should take care of their bodies and practice

every day In addition, they should develop their minds so that

they can be cooperative players in whatever game they

eventually play (comment: a piece of advice for the reader)

CAUSE-EFFECT ESSAYS: Writing

task

Write a four-paragraph cause essay

analyzing the reasons people

prefer being young to being old.

STEP 1: Brainstorming ideas

-People prefer being young to being old.

STEP 2: Outlining

Introduction Body Conclusion

Hook:

_

_

Background information:

_

_

Thesis statement:

_

_

Body paragraph 1

Topic sentence:

_

_

Supporting detail:

_

_

Supporting detail:

_

_

Supporting detail:

_

_

Body paragraph 2

Topic sentence:

_

_

Supporting detail:

_

_

Supporting detail:

_

_

Supporting detail:

_

_

Summary:

_ _ Comment:

_ _

STEP 4: Editing your writing

Editor’s Checklist Put a check ( ) in the box as appropriate.

 1 Does your essay have four paragraphs?

 2 Does your introduction include a hook and background information that explains the effect of the causes?

 3 Does your introduction include a thesis statement that mentions two causes leading to the event/ situation?

 4 Does each of your body paragraph have a topic sentence that states one cause presented in the thesis statement?

 5 Does each of your body paragraph have supporting details that explain the cause presented in the topic sentence?

 6 Did you use connectors for signalling causes?

 7 Did you follow the rules for using will correctly?

 8 Did you use if clauses to show causes?

STEP 4: Editing your writing

Peer Editor’s Checklist Put a check ( ) in the box as appropriate.

 1 Does the essay have four paragraphs?

 2 Does the introduction include a hook and background information that explains the effect of the causes?

 3 Does the introduction include a thesis statement that mentions two causes leading to the

event/situation?

 4 Does the body paragraph have a topic sentence that states one cause presented in the thesis statement?

 5 Does the body paragraph have supporting details that explain the cause presented in the topic sentence?

 6 Did the writer use connectors for signalling causes?

 7 Did the writer follow the rules for using will correctly?

 8 Did the writer use if clauses to show causes?

THE END

Reference

Savage, A., & Mayer, P (2006) Effective academic writing 2: The short

essay New York, NY: Oxford University Press.